Most Difficult Novels
Novels that made you work the hardest. Let's assume that you actually finished the book and felt that it was worth the effort.
Tags:
literary-fiction
Greyweather
2660 books
69 friends
69 friends
Nostromo
362 books
7 friends
7 friends
Muzzlehatch
1366 books
0 friends
0 friends
Sky
1 book
0 friends
0 friends
Joan
680 books
39 friends
39 friends
new_user
1434 books
183 friends
183 friends
Ashley
351 books
24 friends
24 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads
3291 books
869 friends
869 friends
More voters…
Comments Showing 1-50 of 117 (117 new)
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by
Tom
(new)
Aug 12, 2009 01:01PM

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Haha, yeah it confused me as well. And we also read it in my 8th grade reading class...




Technically, Canterbury Tales is not a novel, but so what.



Anna Karenina was very repetitive, in my humble opinion. Nevertheless, I couldn't put it down.



It's all rather subjective isn't it? What makes a book a hard read for someone else wouldn't be the same for you, and vice-versa.

But, this is all opinion, so...



I wouldn't bother if I was you - a turgid novel detailing a land long forgotton in a time that no one car..."
Yes, Fiona, you should bother. Then you will understand about colonialism, and why it informs so many international issues today, which clearly the viewer of Apocalypse Now has failed to do.

Good! Thanks...

This list makes me despair about the future of the written word if books that were read and enjoyed by *teenagers* of my generation are considered 'difficult' now.


Of course one reason why students find Jane Eyre easier is because they can fake reading it by watching the movie LOL...

I think difficulty of engagement, difficulty giving a damn, is really the issue with a lot of these works for some readers, and reading conprehension, raw ability, has little or nothing to do with it. Take Moby Dick, a book that I am reading right now, and enjoying very much. Melville's diction isn't difficult, and he has great "issues" in hand. But a lot of readers find it difficult to sustain their interest through the whole novel. Its almost a cliche of boredom. And what is more "difficult," in the end, than sticking with something that fails to interest you?

P.S. I also deleted the 77pp retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo. I direct those who voted for it to the complete novel, also featured in this list, currently at number 33.


While the Bell Jar was lengthier, I do not see any challenge with this book.



ETA Catch 22 is a piece of cake and a very pleasant read. What's wrong with some people?

Of course you should. It's wonderfully mind-f*cking ;).

On a more positive note, I must say that, after reading both War and Peace and Ana Karenina, I have a lot of respect for Tolstoy as a writer because for him to not only write novels as long as they are and to make them so good (in my opinion) shows what I characterize as superior writing abilities. Of course that's just me.



hey chloe, did you take a look at the book the people who voted for Little Women have on their "read" list? i'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest they were joshing. in fact, if i weren't such a stickler for accuracy and earnestness i would vote for Little Women myself.

I see some people (above) dislike critical comments. And, I appreciate encouraging people who may not read very much. But, this is a place for people who love books, ostensibly. I think deteriorating standards are not a non-issue in that arena. Pretty much every poll or list here is steeped in mediocrity. It's okay to notice this. We care too much about emotions today, and it just feeds the appetitive side of human nature.

Ultimately, I very much agree with Joyce's high placement on the list. He earned it by being both long and difficult.
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